Tongs.



Patented lune l9, I900.

B. l. DAVIS.

T 0 N GS (Application filed Aug. 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wiixyzsses UNITE STATES j PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN I. DAVIS, OF BOONESVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. N. PARROTT, OF MOMULLEN, VIRGINIA.

TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,016, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filedAugust 2 1899. Serial No. 725,907. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN 1. Runs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boonesville, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tongs in general, and more particularly to that class known as fire-tongs, and it has for one object to ,-11)I' Vld] a, construction in which the pivotal connection of the elements will have a form to prevent overlapping of the gripping-jaws of the tongs, which is a defect common to the usual style of tongs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be readily grasped and operated and which will be, moreover, durable and cheap in construction, as also ornamental in appearance.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in both views, Figure l is a perspective view of tongs embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side ele' vation of the tongs, one member of the bifurcated element being omitted, as also one side of the perforated portion of the handle.

Referring now to the drawings, the tongs comprise two elements or legs 5 and 6, each of which has a gripping-jaw formed at one end, and which jaws are adapted to cooperate in the usual manner. At the opposite end of the leg or element 5 is formed a flattened ring 7, the leg lying in line with a diameter of the ring, while the ring lies in a plane at right angles to the plane of the jaw of the leg upon which it is formed. Ahandle 8 is provided with a rectangular perforation 9, through which the ring 7 is passed, said handle having a lug 10, which projects into the inclosure of the ring and radially thereof. The element 6 has its end opposite its jaw bifurcated to form members 11 and 12, which are disposed upon opposite sides of the ring 7 and inclosebetween their extremities the inner end of the lug 10, to which they are pivotally connected through the medium of a pin 13, thus forming a hinge connection between the two elements 5 and 6;

The handle 8 is fixed to the ring 7 by brazing, riveting, or in any other desired manner, and that portion of the handle lying outside of the ring may have any desired form and be of any dimensions and may aline with the element'5, as shown, or lie at an angle thereto, if desired.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the pivot-pin 13 is concentric with the ring 7, and thus the element 6 is adapted to move in an arc concentric with the ring. Thus will the ring in its constant engagement with the members 11 and 12 act to prevent excessive lateral movement of the jaw of the element 6 and insure the alinementof the jaws of the two elements, with a resultant efficient operation of the instrument. The formation and location of the ring 7, moreover, aiford the means of more readily grasping and operating the tongs and at the same time prevent twisting of the tongs in the hands of the operator when lifting a log or other body.

It will of course be understood that in practice the difierent parts of the tongs may have any desired proportions and that any suitable material may be used in the manufacture of the device. Finally it will be seen that the elements adjacent the ring are at all times separated by an interspace sufficient to permit the introduction of the finger of the operator therebetween, thus preventing pinching of the finger when gripping a body and also enabling the jaws to be readily brought together. Also it will be seen that with the present structure the ring forms a guide for the pivoted leg and also forms an extended handle, which encircles and protects the pivotal connection. I

What I claim is- A pair of tongs comprising a leg provided with a jaw at one end, a ring formed at the opposite end of the leg and at an angle to the plane of the jaw,'and a second leg having a jaw at one end adapted to cooperate with the first-named jaw, and having its opposite end 5 bifurcated and inclosing the ring, the bifurcated portion extending to the center of the ring, a lugusecured to the ring and extending inwardly thereof and between the bifurcations of the second leg, and a pivotal connecmo tion between said lug and said bifurcations, my own I have hereto affixed my signature in said piglotallconllllection iiying centritillyfof the the presence of two witnesses. rin w ere t e rin" arms a. ui e 01' the sec nd leg 3.11 5. forms Elso an ext nded handle BENJAMIN DAVIS 5 encircling and protecting the pivotal connec- Witnesses:

tion. 1 GEO. H. CHANDLEE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing. as u W. N. PARROTTL 

